Triax XM-335 “Spectre” Hover Missile Tank:

One weakness the “Phantom” Hover Tank always had was the fact that few
ground vehicles can keep up and during an assault often the artillery and
air defense vehicles would be left behind. Various solutions were discussed
including new hover craft designs. In many ways, a new hover tank design
would be the most effective but a new design would be very expensive. It
was decided that creating a modified version the “Phantom” into a missile
support vehicle would be the most cost effective. The plan was to make
as few modifications to the original design as possible. There were several
important advantages beyond simple cost. These include that their factories
would not have to do as much retooling as they would otherwise which would
speed production. In the battlefield, the large amount of part compatibility
makes repairs simply and simplifies logistics. The first hover missile
tanks have entered service in the New German Republic and it has been well
received by both the crews themselves and the hover tanks that they are
tasked with supporting. It is planned that eventually about ten percent
of hover tank units will be composed of the “Spectre” class hover missile
tanks. Along with being used for heavy fire support, the vehicle is very
effective in air defense roles with its large number of missiles.

The turret and all weapon system with the exception of the forward mounted
rail guns are replaced with the vehicles missile launcher. The hovercraft
carries a partially retractable box launcher which carries both long range
and medium range missiles. The box launcher has four long range missiles
and eight medium range missiles ready to fire. Both the medium range and
long range launchers have an automatic reload system and the tank carries
a total of 8 long range missiles and 24 medium range missiles. A larger
payload of medium range missiles (Three reloads of medium range vs. two
reloads of long range) was felt to be more useful on the battlefield especially
in the air defense role. The rail guns carried in front are modified from
the original XM-330 rail guns to fire at a greater rate of fire. These
same modifications were made to the rail guns on the XM-330-A2 version
of the “Phantom” Hover Tank. The smoke grenade launchers are unmodified
from the original design. Triax has experimented with the use of Prismatic
Aerosols in the grenade launchers to disperse laser beams used against
the tank.

Notes:[1] All indicated hit locations are small and/or difficult targets
to hit. An attacker must make a called shot and has a -3 penalty as well.
[2] If all the M.D.C. of the main body is depleted, the vehicle is
completely shut down and unsalvageable, but crew and troops may survive
in their reinforced compartments.

Speed:Land: 80 mph (128 kph) maximum. The hover tank rides on a cushion
of air as low as two feet (0.6 meters) or as high as six feet (1.8 meters).
Water: 15 mph (24 kph). The hover system is not as efficient
over water as it is over land.
Flying: Flight is not possible.
Maximum Effective Range: Effectively Unlimited by propulsion system, system does
not overheat.

Statistical Data:Length: 38 feet (11.6 meters)
Width: 20 feet (6 meters)
Height: 9 feet (2.7 meters) with missile launcher fully retracted
and 12.5 feet (3.8 meters) with missile launcher fully extended.
Weight: 39 tons (35.4 metric tons) empty and 58 tons (52.6 metric
tons) fully loaded
Power Source: Nuclear Fusion, Should have an average lifespan
of 20 years.
Cargo: Minimal (Storage for small equipment). Tank has space
for three backpacks, canteens, and rifles
Black Market Cost: Not Available, a black market knock off of
the original Phantom hover tank cost around 40 million credits and would
normally not have the same weapon systems.

Weapon Systems:

Forward Rail Guns (2): Two rail guns are located in the front
of the tank. Each can rotate up to 270 degrees and angle up to 45 degrees
and down to a 15-degree angle. Each can be controlled individually or simultaneously
and while normally controlled by the pilot, the weapons can be controlled
by the gunner or communications officer as well. The cannons have an increased
rate of fire for greater damage. Rail Guns can use depleted uranium rounds
for greater damage.
Maximum Effective Range: 4,000 feet (1200 meters)
Mega Damage:Normal Ammo; 1D6x10 M.D.C. per burst of 60
rounds (Does not fire single shot) for one rail gun or 2D6x10 M.D.C. for both
cannons. Depleted Uranium Ammo; 2D4x10 M.D.C. per burst of 60 rounds
(Does not fire single shot) for one rail gun or 4D4x10 M.D.C. for both cannons.
Rate of Fire: Equal to pilot’s hand to hand plus one
Payload: 12,000 rounds total with 6,000 rounds each gun, That
is 200 Bursts for each rail gun. The rail guns are fed by a massive drum
in the main body of the tank. Reloading the drum will take an experienced
field mechanic 10 minutes.

Long Range Missile Launchers: Mounted underneath and in the
same mounting as the medium range missile launcher. The box launcher can
rotate 360 degrees and has a 75 degree arc of fire. The launcher mount
has two rows of two launchers immediately ready to fire (4 tubes total)
with one set of reloads. Long range missiles are normally used against
large targets and aircraft further out and the medium range missiles will
normally be used to engage closer targets.
Maximum Effective Range: As per long range missile type (See revised
bomb and missile tables for details.)
Mega Damage: As per long range missile type (See revised
bomb and missile tables for details.)
Rate of Fire: Can fire missiles one at a time or in volleys of two (2) or four (4) missiles. Missile
cells are automatically reloaded and are ready to fire next melee.
Payload: 4 missile cells in the launcher with reload systems
for each cell (maximum of 8 long range missiles total).

Medium Range Missile Launchers: Mounted above and in the
same mounting as the long range missile launcher. The box launcher can
rotate 360 degrees and has a 75 degree arc of fire. The launcher mount
has two rows of four launchers immediately ready to fire (8 tubes total)
with two sets of reloads. Long range missiles are normally used against
large targets and aircraft further out and the medium range missiles will
normally be used to engage closer targets.
Maximum Effective Range: As per medium range missile type (See revised
bomb and missile tables for details.)
Mega Damage: As per medium range missile type (See revised
bomb and missile tables for details.)
Rate of Fire: Can fire missiles one at a time or in volleys of two (2), four (4), six (6), or eight (8) missiles.
Missile cells are automatically reloaded and are ready to fire next melee.
Payload: 8 missile cells in the launcher with reload systems
for each cell (maximum of 24 medium range missiles total).

Smoke Grenade Launchers (4): Mounted on either side of the
turret and launches smoke grenades. Fragmentation and Stun flash grenades
can be theoretically substituted. See Flanker Urban Defender for details.
The dispenser can dispense prismatic aerosol for dispersing laser beams.
This has the same effect as prismatic aerosol grenades.
Effect: Creates a cloud of smoke 40 ft (12 m) in diameter. Effects
are obscures vision, Infrared sensors cannot penetrate smoke cloud, and
those without environmental protection will have trouble breathing (-5
to strike parry, and dodge). Passive thermal equipment will work inside
of smoke cloud.
Rate of Fire: Two per melee
Maximum Effective Range: 25 to 150 feet (7.6 to 46 meters)
Payload: Carries 8 smoke grenades per launcher.

Special Equipment:The Tank has all the standard features of a standard robot (including
long range communication, radar, and radar tracking) plus these special
features listed.

Radio/ Video Communications: Long range, directional, has a range
of 500 miles with short range directional radio of 5 miles.

Laser Targeting System: Range is 2 miles and gives +1 to strike
with long range weapons.

Combat Computer/ Targeting Computer: Assist in the tracking of targets.

Radar: 50 miles, can identify 96 targets and track 48 as low as
500 ft. Same as robot's Maxi-Radar.

Full Life Support: Protects pilots and hovercraft from heat and
radiation and gives a breathable atmosphere inside the hover tank for up
48 hours in vacuum and three weeks with scrubbers.

Spotlight: Range: 600 feet (182.9 meters)

Thermo-Imager: Range: 2,000 ft (609 m). Finds the infrared radiations
of things that are warm. Also enables pilot to see in smoke, shadows and
darkness.

Nightvision Optics: Range: 2,000 ft (609 m). Uses light amplification
to make a picture. Emits no light but will not work in absolute darkness.
System can be dazzled by sudden bright lights but does not physically blind
the pilot.

Silenced Engine and Propulsion System: No air cushion hover vehicle
is truly silent but the Spectre very quiet for its design. At ranges of
3.1 miles (16,400 feet / 5,000 meters) or greater, The Hover Missile Tank
is so quiet that it gets a prowl roll of 35% in daylight and 60% in darkness.